Cassini Extended Mission

[robnissen]

On February 1, the Cassini project approved a tour for the proposed Cassini Extended mission, which would run for two years from the end of the nominal mission on July 1, 2008 through July 1, 2010. The selected tour includes 27 flybys of Titan, 7 flybys of Enceladus, and 1 flyby for Helene, Dione, and Rhea. Two of the flybys of Enceladus in 2008 will be within 25 KM OF THE SURFACE. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />. This is SO COOL. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br />

 

[JonClarke]

25 km?????? YIKES!!!!!! Let's hope they use the right units!<br /><br />But this is seriously good news - 27 MORE flybys of Titan Yay!!!!<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> Indeed! <br /><br />Do you have a link? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[robnissen]

Not a false alarm, but a little over optimistic. I received the initial info in an email from an Enceladus discussion group. After the first email came out, I received this subsequent email:<br /><br /><font color="yellow">The Cassini extended mission tour has been selected by the project, but not yet approved by NASA.<br /><br />Also the tour is still being tweaked and many of these flybys may still be modified in the coming months. When the tour is finalized, it will be released by the project (onto ssd.jpl.nasa.gov and other <br />places).<br /><br />In other words... hold your horses, we're still working on it </font><br /><br />Note, that the original post stated that it was approved by the Cassini project team, that is true, but NASA has not yet approved it. Hopefully, it will receive final approval, 25 KM flybys of Enceladus would be so cool.

 

[brellis]

This is great news! Thanks for the concise retelling of your discussion with borman and Silylene. <br />As to contamination, what are the chances any earthly microbes have survived after all these years in space?<br />Where does this plan leave Cassini, orbitally? Are they thinking even further ahead? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>

 

[Boris_Badenov]

<font color="yellow"> planned barnstormer </font><br /><br /> I love it. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>